Astrophotography Help |
I have set this page up to use as a file repository for questions and file posting that will allow me to get or provide help to others hobbyists. You can reach me at mdemita@comcast.net or on CloudyNights forum as MadMan Mike |
12/16/11 Update: Home made collimation setup further results - After aligning using the brightest spot in my test images below such that it did not move while rotating the camera, I still had a uniform tilt to my CCD Inspector results. I suspected that if I lessened the angle between the laser and the CCD (made it more perpendicular), it might be better. It did and I now have a perfectly collimated camera. I moved the pen such that it almost eliminated the angle while still allowing the beam to pass to the side of the pen and onto a projection wall some 4 feet away. Projecting onto a wall provides more accuracy than the roofing shingle did. Good luck! |
Original Angle - beam to CCD surface - Collimation Results |
Significantly Lessened Angle Collimation Results. Could be just luck and not the angle - but I do think CCD inspector works well based on just looking at how the image brightned and tightened. |
20 second image of Messier 35. Tak 106 fsq at prime. No changes to focus or setup between pictures. Only one image was taken with each attempted collimation (other than a wrong exposure in between) and the 2nd results were achieved on the first try (colltest3). |
To the right: the original 'all wood' testing platform. Televue Extension instead |
Files Section: |
The objective is to get the CCD surface spot to center when the camera is spun. Below is my current collimation rig with my 60Da doing 4 second exposure while I spun the camera. Collimation is almost perfect (images right) I think or I would see 3 circles in the center. |